Steering and water propulsion system for watercraft



J. c. EGGER 3,132,477

STEERING AND WATER PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR WATERCRFT May 12, 1964 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1961 James 6. Egger. BY W/ la? ATTORNEY May12, 1964 J. c. EGGER 3,132,477

STEERING AND WATER PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR WATERCRAFT Filed July 7, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 2 B Wfl/@2% ATTORNEY J. C. EGGER May 12, 1964 STEERING ANDWATER PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR WATERCRAFT Filed July 7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet3 dames 6. Egger ATTORNEY BY W/ OOO United States Patent O 3,132,477STEERING AN D ll/ATER PRFULSIN SYSTEM FR WATERCRAFT .lames CrawfordEgger, P). ox 6, Caledonia, Miss. Filed luly 7, 196i, Ser. No. 122,4451l Claims. (will. 6th-3554) My invention relates broadly to steering andpropulsion systems for watercraft, and more particularly to a steeringand propulsion system for small boats, such as fishing boats, whereinthe direction of the boat is selectively controlled by the discharge ofwater under pressure from selected water discharge outlets located atselected points beneath the boat hull.

The water propulsion and steering system of this invention providespositive control of a watercraft by one person and is particularlyadaptable for use on small fishing boats where speed is not an importantconsideration. The system of the invention is not designed to providepropelling speeds of great velocity to a watercraft, but is ratherdesigned to produce reactionary propelling forces which impartrelatively low propelling velocities to the watercraft while providingthe craft with positive reactionary direction control.

An electrically-driven water pump supplies water under pressure to amanifold around which are located a series of gate valves which connectthe manifold output to individual water jet outlets located around thebottom ofthe boat in selected positions and oriented to release jets ofWater in various directions. A cam actuator connected to a steering rodopens the appropriate gate valve, or combination of gate valves, whenthe steering rod is pushed in the direction in which it is desired tohave the boat propelled. By thus selectively opening the desired valveor combination of valves, the boat can be propelled forwardly,rearwardly, sideways, or in any de* sired direction, without actuallyturning the boat around, if it is so desired. The jets of water releasedby the opening of the selected gate valves react with the more staticbody of water in which the watercraft is disposed and thus impart areactionary propulsion force to the craft in a direction opposite to theresultant force of the opened valve or combination of Valves. In thestandard Vector diagram this direction is called the equilibrant.

The steering rod or valve release toggle rod contains an electric switchwhich closes the electrical circuit to the pump when the steering rod ispushed oli of its center position. Thus, when the steering rod is pushedin any desired direction, the pump circuit is closed and the pumpoperates to supply Water to the manifold for release through theselectively opened gate valves. With this arrangement of steering rod aperson fishing in a boat alone can have both of his hands free andcontrol the propulsion and steering of the boat by the action of hisknees against the steering rod. The pump motor automatically shuts olfas soon as the rod is released erations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of waterjet propulsion and steering system for small watercraft and the likewhich can be completed and accurately controlled and operated by aselectively positionable steering rod.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of waterpropulsion and steering system for small boats and the like which willenable the boat to be A(le propelled forwardly, rearwardly, sideways, orin any desired direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of thewater propulsion and steering system for Watercraft which is simple inconstruction and economical to manufacture and install on small boats.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a construction ofwater propulsion and steering system for small boats which is portableand which can be easily mounted on and removed from a boat withoutdisiiguration or modification of the boat structure.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction ofthe steering stick control mechanism as set forth more fully in thespecication hereinafter following, in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view partly broken away, showing the waterpropulsion and steering system of the invention installed on a smallwatercraft;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIG. 1, and particularly showing the manner in which the members ofthe propulsion system are mounted along the bottom of the boat hull;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View through the rear water ,iet outletnozzles taken substantially along line 3-3 of FlG. l;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan View of the water supply manifold andsteering mechanism, the view being partly broken away to show theposition of a valve stem with respect to the steering rod control cam;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along line 5 5 ofFIG. 4, and particularly showing the construction of the steering rodelectrical switch, the View showing, in phantom, the manner in which agate valve is opened by the steering mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the steering rod of FIG.5 in a position to close the electrical circuit to the pump motor;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a valve plate from one of the gatevalves;

FIG. 8 is a schematic View diagrammatically indicating the manner inwhich a boat can be propelled in any desired direction;

FIG. 9 is a top plan View showing the portable water propulsion andsteering system of the invention mounted on a small boat;

FIG. l0 is a side elevational view, partly in section, takensubstantially along line ltd-lll of FIG. 9;

FIG. l1 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line lll-dlof FIG. l0;

FIG. `l2 is a side elevational view partly in cross-section showing theportable water pump attached to the stern `of the boat and takensubstantially along line 12-12 of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 13 is a crosssectional View taken substantially along line 13 lilof FlG. 5, and particularly showing the positioning of the steering rodassembly electrical contact rings.

Throughout the several views similar reference characters refer tosimilar members of the system of the invention. The stationary systemwherein the watercraft is modified to receive a permanent installationof the water propulsion and steering system of the invention is shown inFIGS. 1-3, whereas, the manner in which the portable system of theinvention is applied to a boat is shown in FIGS. 9-12.

Referring first to the system of the invention which is permanentlyinstalled in a watercraft as shown in FIGS. l-3, reference character ylindicates a centrifugal water pump secured to the bottom Z of the boat 3by suitable means, such as screws 4, an access hole being providedthrough the bottom of the boat beneath the pump, as indicated at 5, sothat water may be drawn up into the pump,

n nl as indicated at 6. The centrifugal pump l is driven by electricalmotor 7 to supply water under pressure by means of conduit 8 to thecircular water supply manifold 9. The water supply manifold 9 is mountedto the bottom of the boat by means orC tie support members lil, securedto the boat by screws ll, or other suitable means.

Gate valves l2, l2', la, l2, lZV and l2", each having a supply end 13,and a discharge end le, are evenly distributed around water supplymanifold 9 and have their supply ends 13 connected to the water supplymanifold so that water may be communicated from the manifold to the gatevalves. For purposes ol illustrations, l have shown six gate valvesconnected to the water supply manifold 9 as particularly shown in FlGS.4 and 5, since l have found six valves sutlcient to completely andeffrciently control the manipulation and steering of a small boat. lt isto be understood however, that any number ot valves can be used if it isfound that a particular type of Watercraft requires more than six waterjet outlets to efrlciently control the steering and propulsion or thecraft.

The outlet ends of the gate valves lZ-l" have flexible water-conductinghoses l connected thereto, through right angled hose-coupling memberslo. Each of these ilexible hoses l5 is connected to an individual waterjet outet nozzle or port secured to the bottom of the boat and openingbeneath the boat at selected locations; the water outlets each beingpermanently oriented to direct a jet of water in a selected direction toprovide steering control for the watercrait. lt will be noted from l,that three water jet outlet tubes or nozzles i7, l and i9 are securelyconnected to the mounting plate 2d and connected to the bottom of theboat Z in the sternr position by means of screws 2l or other suitablemounting means. The water tube outlets i7, i3 and l@ extend beneath themounting plate 2@ and through access holes 22 provided in the bottom oithe boat so that they may selectively release reactionary jets of waterinto the more static body of water in which the boat is disposed. A

' gasket member, shown at 23, provides a watertight seal between t ebottom of the boat and the water nozzle mounting plate 2d to maintainthe craft in watertight condition. yNozzle is oriented as snown in HG. 3to release a jet oi water to the portside of tbe boat to produce a sternreactionary force to starboard, while nozzle i9 is oriented to release a,iet oi water to the starboard side of the boat to produce a reactionarymovement to the stern ot the boat to port, and nozzle is oriened todirect a reactionary jet of water directly to the stern of the boat toproduce a forwardly directed reactionary movement to the boat.

Similarly, three water jet outlet tubes or nozzles 24, 25 and 26 aremounted in the bow of the boat as shown in PEG. l. The nozzles aresecurely connected to a mounting plate 27 similar to the stern mountingplate 2d, and the same is secured to the bottom ot the boat in similarmanner by means of screws 2d, or other suitable mounting means. lnsimilar fashion to the stern water jet outlet ports i7, and i9, thecorresponding bow outlet ports 4, 25 and 2.5 extend through access holesin the bottom of the boat, and outlet nozzle 24 is oriented so that itmay release a jet of water to the port side of the boat to produce a bowreactionary force to the starboard while utlet nozzle Elfi is orientedso that it may release a jet of water to the starboard side of the boatto produce a reacti nary movement of the bow to port, outlet nozzle 25is oriented to direct a jet oi water directly toward the bow of the boattoy produce a sternwardly directed re-V actionary movement to the boat.

The outlet ends lil or" the gate valves l2, l2', 1 2, iz l2 and lZV arerespectively connected to water jet outlet nozzles or ports "i7, l, i9,2a, 25 and M through the flexible water-conveying hoses l5", such thatupon the selective opening of any gate valve, or pair of gate valves, ajet of water will be released from the corresponding water jet outletport, or ports, to impart the desired directional reactionary movementto the watercraft.

As shown more particularly in FIGS. 5 and 7, the gate valves lZ-lZ" areeach provided with a slidably tapered valve plate 29, having valve plateguide rods 39 and 3l integrally connected therewith, the valve plates 29being selectively slidable in a correspondingly tapered slot indicatedgenerally at 32 disposed substantially at right angles to the axis ofthe gate valve water ilow channel 33. The cooperation between thetapered valve plates 29 and the correspondingly tapered valve slots 32provide positive water cut-off, at all times, when the valves are in theclosed position and maintain the slidable valve plates in alignment atall times. The valve plates 29 are normally biased to the closedposition to block oil llow of water through the valves by means ofsprings 34 disposed about valve plate guide rods Tall and abutting withthe removable threaded valve rod gui-de members 35. The valve rod guidemembers 3S are threaded into the main gate valve bodies so that they maybe easily removed to give access to the interior of the gate valves formaintenance purposes and to enable the valve plates 29 to be easilyremoved when necessary.

The valve guide rods 3l extending from the opposite sides of the valveplates 29 from the guide rods 39 extend through the water seal members,indicated at 36, and slidably extend intermediate the spaced guideplates 37 and 33 centrally located beneath manifold 9 and rigidlysupported by means of supports 39 connected to water supply manifold 9.Guide plate 37 is rigidly connected to the manifold 9 through supports39 and then guide plate 33 is spaced from guide plate 37 by means otscrews and spacer members indicated at dll, in FIG. 4, disposed onopposite sides of each of the valve guide rods 3l so that they may alsoserve as guide members for these rods. Guide plate 3S is provided withan opening indicated at il and a circular valve opening cam or disc l2having a diameter greater than guide plate opening il and slightlysmaller than the diameter or the circle formed by the ends of the valveguide rods 3l of gate valves i242", as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, isslidably disposed intermediate the guide plates 37 and 3S.

A socket mounting assembly i3 for a ball pivot connector d5 is rigidlysupported above and centrally of water supply manifold 9 by means ofsupport members llt rigidly connected to the manifold 9. The ballconnector 45 is rigidly carried by a rod member 46 the lowerrnost end ofwhich is movably supported in the cylindrical cup support member 47,which in turn is connected to the cam d?. through a ball and socketjoint he rod member 46 forms the bottom portion of the steering rod orvalve release toggle rod assembly shown more particularly in FlGS. 5 and6.

A sleeve member t9 engages the upper portion of rod 46 and is securedthereto by means of an Allen screw Sb or other suitable securing means.A circular collar 5l is integrally carried by the uppermost portion olsleeve member r9 to serve as a spacer means between the sleeve member 49and the inverted cup portion 52, of the steering rod 53, which encasesthe sleeve member 49. The end wall 54 of the inverted cup portion 52 isnormally disposed in abutting relation with the circular collar 5l., asshown more particularly in FlG. 5. A portion of the upper end of rodmember 46 extends above the circular collar 5l and into the hollow boreof the steeri rod S3. A tubular member 55, carrying a terminating head56 and having a bore threaded at its lower` end, is snugly fitted intothe upper end of steering rod 53. A lug member S9 is threaded into thebore of tube member 55 as shown, and a spring member 57 is connectedbetween the lug 59 and the upper portion of rod 46 as indicated at 58 tothus provide a movable coupling between the steering rod with itsassociated inverted cup member and the rod member 46 with its circularcollar 51.

An electrical contact ring 60 is carried about the perimeter of sleevemember 49, the contact ring being insulated from the sleeve member bymeans of the insulation ring 6l. The inverted cup portion 52 of thesteering rod 53 carries a cooperating electrical contact ring 62 on theinterior bore thereof in the same horizontal plane as the contact ring60. The steering rod contact ring 62 is spaced away from and normallyout of contact with contact ring 60, as shown in FIG. 5, and isinsulated from the inverted cup portion 52 by means of insulation ring63. A lug member 64, connected with steering rod contact ring 62,extends through and is insulated from the inverted cup portion and anelectrical wire 65 in electrical connection with the lug member extendsinto electrical connection with one terminal of the battery 66, as shownin FIG. 1.

An electrical connector lug 67 is disposed through the wall of theinverted cup portion 52, at a position above steering rod contact ring62, and is insulated therefrom `by means of an insulation grommet 68. Aexible insulated Wire 69 extends in electrical connection interiorly 0fthe inverted cup portion between the lug 67 and the contact ring 66. Anelectrical conductor 7i) extends `from the lug member 67 to one terminalof the pump motor 7 to complete the circuit from the steering rodcontact ring 66 to the pump motor. The other terminal of the pump motoris connected to the remaining terminal of battery 66 through wire 71, tothus complete the electrical circuit of the selective water jet steeringsystem. Thus the open circuit between the steering rod contact ring 62and the cooperating contact ring 60 acts as a switch to close theelectrical circuit to the pump motor,

To operate the water jet steering system, the steering rod 53 is pushedtoward the direction in which it is desired to have the boat propelled,as indicated in FIG. 8. Since the steering rod assembly `53 isresiliently coupled to the rod member 46 by means of spring 57, when thesteering rod is pushed in a desired direction the inverted cup portion52 rocks upon the circular collar 51 so that steering rod contact ring62 moves into electrical connection with the` cooperating contact ring60 to complete the electrical circuit to the pump motor, thus puttingthe pump in its operational state, supplying water under pressure towater supply manifold 9. As the steering rod 53 is displaced further inthe direction in which it is desired to have the boat propelled, rodmember 46 is pivoted about its ball and socket joint 45, 43 and thevalve opening cam 42, at the lower extremity of the rod, is moved intoContact with the end of the valve guide rod or pair of valve guide rods31 which are positioned in its path of movement. As the valve openingcam 42 is displaced further from its center position, the rod 46 adjustsitself axially within the cylindrical cup coupling 47 and the Valveguide rod or rods 31 and the valve plates 29 carried thereby aredisplaced from their normally closed spring-biased position, as shown infull lines in FIG. 5, to the open position as shown in dotted lines inFIG. 5, as more displacement force is applied by the cam member to theends of the guide rods. As indicated, the direction of boat propulsionwill generally be in the direction that the valve rod is displaced asshown in FIG. 8, and the magnitude of the steering rod displacement will`determine the quantity of water flow through the selectively openedports, since the degree of valve opening is directly proportional to thedisplacement of the steering rod. Thus the thrust developed, from theselectively opened jets or ports `under the boat, is directlyproportional to the magnitude of the steering' rod displacement. As avalve is selectively opened in this manner the water under pressure inmanifold 9 `is communicated to the outlet nozzle or port connected withthe particular Valve to 6 thereby produce a reactionary force to thecraft in an opposite direction from the direction in which the water jetis released.

Since it is merely necessary to displace the steering rod in thedirection it is desired to propel the craft, the craft can be easilypropelled by the knees of the fisherman, thus leaving both of thetishermans hands free for fishing operations. When the steering rod isreleased it is automatically returned to its neutral position by actionof the valve biasing springs 34 and the action of the steering rodcoupling spring 57 returns the steering rod 53 to axial alignment withrod member 46 to thus open the pump motor circuit to cease propulsion ofthe boat and operation of the centrifugal water pump.

As shown in FlG. 2, the connecting hoses 15, together with theassociated water jet outlet nozzles or ports and the centrifugal pump,can be housed beneath floor boards in the bottom of the boat so that theboatman does not come in contact with these members. In lieu of theconstruction of the steering rod electrical switch shown in thedrawings, the operation of the pump motor could also be controlled by anelectrical push button switch located on the top of the steering rod toallow the operator to control pump operation by depressing the switchwith his thumb. Of course, with this construction the operator would nothave both hands free for fishing operations as provided by the preferredembodiment of the invention. rl`he steering system of this invention canalso be adapted to larger craft by merely increasing the size of thewater supply manifold, the associated valves, nozzles, and othermembers. On larger installations it may be desirable to provide smallroller wheels rotatively journaled on the ends of the valve rods 31 toprovide rolling contact between the valve rods and the cam 42 to producesmoother operation of the enlarged units. l

In FIGS. 9-l2, a modified form of the invention is shown, disclosing aportable system which can be mounted on any small watercraft withoutmodifying the craft and which can be removed from the watercraft withoutdamaging the same in any way. In this form of the invention the watersupply manifold and the steering rod assembly are the same as shown anddescribed in the preferred embodiment of the invention and the operationis the same as previously described. The waterproof pump motor 7 ismounted to the centrifugal pump 1 and the entire assembly is supportedunder water by a supporting water supply pipe 72. The water pumpassembly is secured to the end wall of the boat by means of a C clamp 73with an adjustable thumb screw 74 for tightly securing the clamp to theboat. A bracket 75 having a hollow sleeve portion 76 integral with oneend thereof is pivotally connected at 77 to C clamp member 73.Supporting water supply pipe 72 is fitted within and is axiallyadjustable within the hollow sleeve portions `76 so that the pump andmotor assembly can be mounted exteriorly of the boat and can besubmerged beneath the water at a desired depth merely by adjusting pipe72 within sleeve 76 and securing the same in the desired position bymeans of set screws 78. Thusl the pipe 77 serves as the support formaintaining the pump and motor beneath the surface of the water and alsoserves as the main water supply pipe for supplying waterunder pressurefrom the pump l to the manifold 9 by means of flexible water conduit 8'.v

The C clamp device also allows for adjustment in the vertical plane sothat the pump can be maintained in a horizontal plane beneath the water.A series of adjust- `ment holes '79 are provided in the pivoted bracket75 in a position so that they are selectively registerable with anaperture in the C clamp 73. A pin 8i) is passed in the holes in the Cclamp and through one of the several adjustment holes in the pivotedbracket to rigidly connect the bracket 75 to the C clamp 73 in aposition such that the member supported by the sleeve portion 73 ismaintained in vertical alignment. With such a construcsnaai?? tion thecomponents of the system can be adapted to boats whose sides andendboards are disposed at varying angles. In lieu of the water jetnozzles described in the preferred embodiment of the invention anarrangement of three water jet pipes is clamped to the back of the boatas shown at i7', i8 and t9', and to the gunwale of the front of the boatas shown at 24', 2S' and 26. The water jet pipes are of a length so thatthey extend from above the gunwale of the boat to beneath the bottom ofthe boat as shown in FG. l0, each pipe having substantially a rightangle bend at its lower extremity and the group of three pipes havingtheir end discharge portions positioned to expel water in directionssimilar to those described in the preferred embodiment of the invention,that is, two of the pipes disposed to expel water to opposite sides ofthe craft and the remaining pipe disposed to expel a jet of water eitherto the front or to the rear of the craft. The three pipes are securelyconnected into their particular arrangement by means .of brackets 8lwhich are secured thereto by welding or other suitable fastening meansto maintain the group of pipes integral with each other.

The front water jet expelling pipes 24J-26 are secured to the gunwale ofthe boat adjacent the bow by means of a C clamp 73 and adjustablebracket 75 as described in connection with the pump supporting means. Aswith the pump support pipe, the water jet pipes can be adjusted in thevertical plane by means of the pivoted bracket adjustment holes 79 andthe C clamp pin Sti. Thus the water jet pipes can be verticallypositioned so that they can properly expel their jets of reactionarywater, indeiendent of the slope of the gunwale `of the boat to whichthey are connected. This pin adjustment thus enables' the jet pipes tobe swung a few degrees toward or away from the boat to compensate forthe slope of the gunwale or back of the boat.

The arrangement of jet pipes is provided with a certain amount of freemovement up and down in the horizontal plane to allow the expelling endsof the pipes to be positioned beneath the bottom of the boat. Withregard to the front water jet pipes 24', 25 and Z6', the pipe nearestthe boat 26 is adjustable axially, slidable within the clamp sleeveportion 76 and can be secured at any desired height by means of the setscrews 7S which secure the arrangement of jet pipes to the clamp member.

The center pipe of the rear jet pipe assembly i7', i8' and t9 isslidably engaged by the sleeve portion V'76 of a similar adjustable Cclamp bracket connected to the back wall of the boat. ln similar fashionthe jet pipe is axially adjustable within the sleeve portion and issecured at the desired level by means of set screws or other suitablefastening means. Similar to the front group of water jet pipes, thisrear group of water jet pipes is also adjustable in the vertical planeby means of the pivoted bracket adjustment holes 79 and the C clamp pinAs in the preferred form of the invention, the water jet outlet pipesi7', ll and t9', 24 25- and 26', are respectively connected to theselectively operable gate valves i12-312V by means of flexiblewater-conveying conduits 1S. These conduits run along the bottom of theboat and over the sides to make connection with the tops of the waterjet pipes as shown. It can easily be seen that when the system isremoved from the boat so as to convert the boat back to a conventionalwatercraft, the boat has not been mutilated in any manner whatsoever.The electrical circuit and the operation ot the portable system isidentical with the preferred embodiment of the invention.

While l have described my invention in certain of its preferredembodiments, realize that modications may be made, and l desire that itbe understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended otherthan may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. Apparatus for steering and propelling a Watercraft by means ofselectively releasable jets of water under pressure comprising, a watersupply pump, an annular manifold connected to receive water underpressure from said pump, a multiplicity of selectively operable valvesconnected to and disposed about said manifold, a valve operating memberextending from each of said valves, a multiplicity of water outlet portspositioned for expelling 'ets of water in different directions,water-conveying conduits connecting said multiplicity of water outletports to said manifold via said multiplicity of selectively operablevalves, a movable steering rod, a cam member connected to said steeringrod, said cam member being positioned adjacent the valve operatingmembers and being selectively movable by said steering rod to open oneor more of said selectively operable valves through the valve operatingmembers for expelling jets of water from the manifold through selectedoutlet ports for propelling a watercraft substantially in the directionsaid steering rod is moved.

2. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus for watercraftcomprising, water outlet means for expelling jets of water in differentdirections, valve means connected to supply water under pressure to saidoutlet means, a movable upstanding rod, a cam member pivotally connectedto said rod and operatively connected to selectively open said valvemeans, a water manifold disposed in surrounding relation to saidupstanding rod and adapted for connection to a water pump to constantlyreceive water under pressure throughout its length, said valve meansconnected to receive water from said water manifold whereby displacementof said cani member by movement of said rod from the upstanding positionselectively opens one or more of. said valve means forexpeliing jets ofwater from said water outlet means for propelling a watercraftsubstantially in the direction said rod is moved.

3. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus as set forth 1n claim 2in which said upstanding rod is universalyly connected to saidsurrounding water manifold and is disposed in spaced relation therewith.

4. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus as set forth in claim 2in which said water manifold is annular in form, and said annular Watermanifold and said upstanding rodbeing connected in concentric relation.

5. Apparatus for steeringand propelling a Watercraft as set -foith inclaim 1 including an end extension encircling the upper end of saidsteering rod and pivotally connected thereto, switch means connectedbetween said end extension and said steering rod and electricallyconnected for selective operation of said water supply pump, and saidswitch means being operable to operate said pump upon pivotal movementof said end extension relative to said steering rod.

6. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus for watercraft as setforth in claim 2 in which said cam member is selectively displaceable inthe horizontal plane.

7. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus for watercraftcomprisingV a water supply compartment, means for supplying water underpressure to said compartment connected therewith, water jet outletmeans, valvel means connected to selectively convey water from saidcompartment to said water jet outlet means, an upstanding movablesteering rod universally mounted intermediate its ends to said watersupply compartment, and displaceable disc means connected on one end ofsaid .steering rod and operatively associated with said valve means forselective opening of said valve means to propel a watercraftsubstantially in the direction of movement of said steering rod. f

8. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus for watercraft, as setforth in claim 7 in which said means for supplying water under pressureto said compartment includes an electrically-operable pump, switchmeans, said switch means electrically connected with said pump andcarried by said upstanding movable steering rod and operable forselectively automatically operating said pump when said steering rod ismoved from the upstanding position.

9. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus for watercraft comprisinga Water supply compartment, means for supplying Water under pressure tosaid compartment connected therewith, water jet outlet means, valvemeans connected to selectively convey Water from said compartment tosaid Water jet outlet means, displaceable disc means associated withsaid valve means for selective opening of said valve means, and adisplaceable steering rod member connected for displacement of said discto open the appropriate valve means to propel a watercraft substantiallyin the direction in which the steering rod is displaced.

10. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus for Watercraft as setforth in claim 9 in which said disc means is positioned centrally ofsaid Water supply compartment.

11. Water jet propulsion and steering apparatus for Watercraftcomprising, annular Water supply means, means for supplying water underpressure to said annular Cil Water supply means, water jet outlet means,a plurality of valve means disposed about said annular Water supplymeans and connected to selectively convey Water from said annular meansto said outlet means, a horizontally slideable disc member operativelyconnected to said plurality of valve means, and manually operableuniversally movable means connected to said disc member and connectedcentrally of said annular supply means for selectively sliding said discmember for selective operation of said plurality of valve means toproduce a propulsion force from said Water jet outlet means for movementof a Watercraft in the direction of movement of said universally movablemeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS979,532 Merrill et al Dec. 27, 1910 1,364,555 Hunt Ian. 4, 19212,582,565 Schnippel Jan. 15, 1952 2,941,365 Carlson lune 21, 196()FOREIGN PATENTS 746,383 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1956 402,465 France Apr.27, 1909

1. APPARATUS FOR STEERING AND PROPELLING A WATERCRAFT BY MEANS OFSELECTIVELY RELEASABLE JETS OF WATER UNDER PRESSURE COMPRISING, A WATERSUPPLY PUMP, AN ANNULAR MANIFOLD CONNECTED TO RECEIVE WATER UNDERPRESSURE FROM SAID PUMP, A MULTIPLICITY OF SELECTIVELY OPERABLE VALVESCONNECTED TO AND DISPOSED ABOUT SAID MANIFOLD, A VALVE OPERATING MEMBEREXTENDING FROM EACH OF SAID VALVES, A MULTIPLICITY OF WATER OUTLET PORTSPOSITIONED FOR EXPELLING JETS OF WATER IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS,WATER-CONVEYING CONDUITS CONNECTING SAID MULTIPLICITY OF WATER OUTLETPORTS TO SAID MANIFOLD VIA SAID MULTIPLICITY OF SELECTIVELY OPERABLEVALVES, A MOVABLE STEERING ROD, A CAM MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID STEERINGROD, SAID CAM MEMBER BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT THE VALVE OPERATINGMEMBERS AND BEING SELECTIVELY MOVABLE BY SAID STEERING ROD TO OPEN ONEOR MORE OF SAID SELECTIVELY OPERABLE VALVES THROUGH THE VALVE OPERATINGMEMBERS FOR EXPELLING JETS OF WATER FROM THE MANIFOLD THROUGH SELECTEDOUTLET PORTS FOR PROPELLING A WATERCRAFT SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE DIRECTIONSAID STEERING ROD IS MOVED.